power and borders- CASE STUDY, UKRAINE

Background info- Ukraine and Russia

3 main factors causing conflict between Ukraine + Russia

• flat lands of Northern European Plains- allow military staging post + advance into Russia, would be hard to defend against

• Stevastopol (important port in Crimea)

• Growth of NATO members on Russia’s borders. Russia wants to keep a barrier around itself

• Ukraine is not a NATO member. Ukraine is a NATO partner country→ cooperates closely with NATO, not covered by security guarantee

What led to the annexation of Crimea?

Annexation= the forcible transition of one state’s territory by another state. It is a unilateral act. Basically seized.

Timeline:

• 2005-2010: President Yushchenko aimed to orient Ukraine towards the West (pro-Western), aiming to move Ukraine closer towards the EU and NATO

• 2010-14: Yanukovych (next president) continued closer relationship with EU, but abandoned an EU association agreement suddenly in 2013—> led to mass protests (Euromaiden) and eventually his removal from office

• Jan & Feb 2014: Mass protests- Euromaiden- in Kyiv. 108 protesters and 13 police killed by police snipers. Yanukovych signed an agreement with Russia- closer ties with Russia, secretly fled the capital later that day. He was formally removed as leader and went into exile in Russia. He has been sentenced to 13 yrs in prison for high treason.

• 2014-22: March 2014, following Euromaiden, pro Russian protests began in the Dontetsk and Luhansk republics (Eastern Ukraine)—> collectively the Donbas. Began as Russia invaded and annexed Crimea. Armed Russian separatists in Ukraine seized Ukrainian government buildings, declared Donbas as independent states- conflict occurred with Ukrainian government forces. Challenged sovereignty as the Ukrainian government lost control over the Donbas region

• March 2014: Russia invaded and annexed (seized) Crimea (Challenged territorial integrity.)

• 2014-19: President Poroshenko governed during Donbas war + loss of Crimea. His administration promoted Ukrainian nationalism, strengthened the use of Ukrainian language + helped establish an independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine- separating from Russian church

• 2019- present: Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been president since 2019. He promised to end Donbas war, pursue dialogue with Russia. Led Ukraine during the invasion of Ukraine by Russia which started in Feb 2022.

Causes and challenges to the government

• Withdrawn trade deal with EU, Ukrainians saw this as a corrupt government with a lack of authority

• Annexation of Crimea- the Crimean parliament which was part of Ukraine was seized by Russian military and was made pro-Russian. Russia has power still over Crimea. Threat to sovereignty and Ukraines territorial integrity. Crimea militarised by Russia. Ukraines ability to make decisions is more limited

• Donbas region unrest- independent states

Impact on people and places

• Euromaiden protests that sparked due to withdrawn trade deal. Over 100 protesters killed, more than 2,500 injured

• Halted transport- euromaiden, in central Kyiv, metro stations closed, roads blocked, public transport restricted

• Property damage due to euromaiden, cars burned and destroyed, trade unions building damaged

• Independent states- Donbas region, unrest

• War in Ukraine against Russia

• Donbas residential areas suffered loss of power, water supply, gas